Just Wait For The Idea To Come, Right? Wrong!

Ideas, like opportunities, don't come that often. We have to look for them. Sometimes, if we're lucky, an idea for a screenplay appears out of nowhere. We're walking our dog, taking a shower, overhearing a conversation in a restaurant or an elevator, skimming the newspaper and voila!...inspiration strikes. That's cool if that happens, but if we're spending the bulk of our time waiting for that fantastic idea to land in our laps, well, we're going to wait a long time. If the muse isn't striking a chord, we have to look for ideas. How do we do this? Pretty much by making sure our antennae are up 24/7. Be on the look out for ideas from all the different kinds of media. Read newspapers. Read a few of the pop culture websites and blogs. When you're talking with friends or co-workers or strangers, pay attention to what they say. They might innocently relate an anecdote that resonates with you and could serve as the catalyst for your next script. Let your mind wonder. Think about your past. People, events, specific incidents that affected you. Sometimes recalling things from our past opens up a door that has long been closed. And don't forget about reading. Inspiration breads inspiration. Or going to movies. Sometimes watching a film can jump start your creativity. But the most important thing is to always be ready to be receptive to the random comment, encounter or oddball incident that gets you to think, "What if...?"

Danielle, there's a fine line between stealing an idea and overhearing something in a person's conversation. Or if you're having a conversation with someone who mentions something that resonates with you. If a friend or acquaintance or co-worker says something, and they're not a writer, I suggest asking their permission to use what they said. Most people will say yes. As far as a random line or overheard conversation of a stranger, the presumption is that you're not going to use what they said and write something damaging or bad about the person. You're simply inspired by something they said to write something unique to you. So it's not stealing. You're taking a comment and turning it into a 110 page screenplay.

I like the concept that inspiration breeds inspirtation. Somebody tells you something or says something that resonates. It's not stealing. It's just kind of something that happens and if you can get a story out of it, it's OK.

I'm kind of young, just starting out. 21. I don't have that much real life experience. I mean, I still live with my parents, they pay all my bills, I've never had a job and I go to community college part time. Most of my experience has to do with being kind of a slacker. Only thing I like to do is watch movies. And since I started writing them it feels like all my experience comes from watching the movies I watch. How can I get more life experience without having to move out and get a job?

I've always used my own experiences to find inspriation from. I always figured, "write what you know". But I guess it's possible to find inspiration from other sources, now that you mention it. I like the cover of your book.

Eric, Life experience is different for everyone. You're still young, but the sooner you start "living life" the sooner your horizons will broaden and then you will begin to gain a wider perspective of life and the world. The experiences you have the more material you'll have to draw on in the things you write.

My version:“A 21 year old slacker still living with mom and dad watches movies day and night. He's bored and restless, doesn't want a job, and doesn’t want to leave home. Suddenly he gets an idea ....”

Would that be a good tag line for one of those contests? The “idea” could be to write, or something else. And I would hope it was a comedy or I fear for his parents. Of course this could be too much like Failure to Launch. Its great to have new ideas, but really given enough time most ideas are recycled, just like clothing. (Though bells bottoms didn’t really make it the 2nd time around). So Eric, maybe your story is your “story”.

D.B. GILLES

What Writers Rehab Is All About

After more than 20 years as a script consultant and writing coach, I’ve encountered over 2,000 writers ranging in age from 17 to 82, from those just starting out to a bunch who’ve gotten deals, sold scripts and had work produced. Some have good writing habits, many don’t. I’ve learned that there are two kinds of writers: those who finish the first draft (and subsequent revisions) and those who don’t. For whatever reason, most writers fall out of love with their story, encounter unforeseen plot problems or reach a brick wall that seems insurmountable.

Writers Rehab is for writers who’ve lost their way, are floundering and need a jumpstart. It’s designed to help you nurse yourself back to creative health.

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